Vegans are often stereotyped as being judgmental. However, I have found that as a vegan I often feel judged by many of the non-vegans I meet. Usually, when someone I don’t know well finds out I am a vegan, they ask some version of the same 5 questions. I hear these questions all the time, to the point it’s exhausting. This feeling of exasperation is similar to when I was graduating college and every single person I spoke to asked “so what are you going to do after graduation!?” After a couple months I wanted to respond with “strip” just to see their eyes get all buggy. I have a stockpile of responses for these vegan inquiries so that I don’t even need to think when I hear them.

Now this is not to say I don’t like to talk about veganism—quite the opposite! I love to talk about it. But every time I hear the question (usually in a tone lilting with judgment) “how could you give up cheese!?!” I want to scream, and/or wear a t-shirt that says IT’S CHEESE, NOT CRACK so I can point to it. So, just for giggles, I am going to lay out a few questions that omnivores should kindly stop bombarding vegans with—unless, of course, they are truly curious as opposed to making judgments or comparisons, which is how I feel 90% of the initial questions thrown my way are aimed. I don’t mean to be snarky here, because I am sure some of the people asking are truly curious, but I can’t help feeling the majority of them have already made up their minds about my lifestyle—usually they are comparing it to theirs and worried that I am judging them.

1. Where do you get your protein!?2. How could you give up cheese?!3. But you eat fish right? They have no feelings (Thanks Kurt Cobain…)4. So you don’t eat eggs? What about ice-cream? Butter?!?!?!5. So, what do you eat, lots of salad?

Instead of asking the above questions, I would suggest anyone interested in learning more about a vegan lifestyle ask a few of the following questions, which will probably start a better conversation and maybe not come off so as so disparaging.

1. What made you decide to go vegan?2. What was the hardest part about going vegan?3. Have you noticed any major changes since you went vegan?4. Do you think a vegan diet could be universally adopted?5. Do you think your veganism has an impact on something greater than yourself?! (okay, the last two might be a bit deep for supermarket chit-chat…)

So, anyone else have a question they are sick of hearing, or a great response for when you feel someone is judging you? How do you handle awkward situations, like office parties when everyone is horrified when you turn down the ice-cream cake?